Varane: Zidane key to my time with Real Madrid

12 February 2018

Neymar only completed his world-record €222 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last August but the Brazil global has already been linked with a sensational switch to Madrid.

Zidane has no players suspended for the meeting with Real Sociedad. Perhaps the guarantee of being able to play on a weekly basis at Stamford Bridge could appeal to Isco, who has spent large periods of his time in Madrid among the substitutes. With the Frenchman preferring to play his struggling trio of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema, despite all three struggling for form.

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has no intentions of selling Isco or any other "crucial" member of his squad as he remains focused on securing a positive end to the season. "I trust and want all of them to stay".

Real Sociedad came sixth last season, but the Basques are enduring more difficulties this time around and are now down in 14th place after 22 rounds of matches. "Hopefully, we won't hear any more of this", Zidane added.

In the meantime, however, there are updates on Conte himself, two Real Madrid players and Swansea's Tammy Abraham. Their sole defeat was a 4-2 loss at Anoeta in August 2014. Their last defeat against the Basques at the Bernabeu was a 4-1 loss in May 2004.

Neymar has starred for PSG this season, scoring 28 goals in 27 games in all competitions following his arrival from Barcelona.

At the time Isco only had a year-and-half left on his contract at Real and Marca suggested that Los Blancos would push for his departure in order to avoid losing him for free in the summer of 2018.